The Spanish government has announced that 6,791 migrants who entered the North African enclave of Ceuta in May 2021 have returned voluntarily to Morocco. The figure includes a significant number of unaccompanied minors who were repatriated under a bilateral agreement between Spain and Morocco.
The mass crossing occurred in mid-May 2021, when an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people, many of them minors, crossed into Ceuta from Morocco. The influx overwhelmed local reception facilities and prompted Spain to deploy additional security forces to the border.
Spain's Interior Ministry has stated that the returns were carried out in accordance with Spanish law and international agreements, with each case individually assessed. The government has emphasized that the process prioritized the best interests of the minors involved.
The episode strained relations between Spain and Morocco, which had been tense over the presence of Western Sahara independence leader Brahim Ghali in a Spanish hospital. Morocco later relaxed border controls, allowing the crossings. Diplomatic ties have since improved, with both countries pledging cooperation on migration management.
As of September 2026, the Spanish government maintains that the voluntary return program has been completed, though some human rights organizations have raised concerns about the treatment of unaccompanied minors during the process. The government rejects these criticisms, stating that all returns were lawful and humane.
